Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE to shop at thriftstores.
I've definitely learned a few handy tips since I started with this whole obsession. I've randomly decided to impart on you this wisdom...... like it or not.
Anyone who has been to my house in the past 2 years will definitely be able to relate to this circumstance:
"Hey Julia, that's a cool new (insert any household object)"
Option A: "thanks, I got it at Goodwill"
Option B: " thanks, I got it for free"
Let me begin by saying that I know this is a blog about food. I am NOT talking about thrift store shopping for ingredients.
Ok, idiots are warned, let's move along....
Part One: Why Second Hand?
First, the obvious reason- it's cheaper! Well, most of the time, but we'll get to that later.
Things at thrift stores can be half the price you'd find at a department store. Plus, you can occasionally find a much better brand than what you'd find at Wal-Mart.
Second, the BIGGEST reason- it ISN'T Wal-Mart. As most people know, 99% of products from most major department stores are shipped from overseas. Wal-Mart doesn't support local communities in the way a locally owned store would. Let me point out that I'm not bashing Wal-Mart here. They've done a lot in my community to create some new jobs. I can't hate on that. What I am saying is that the money from purchases there doesn't go 100% back into our community. It goes to factories in China to buy more China-made stuff.
As Americans, we think that it's ok to just throw it out and get something new. We don't fix it, we don't replace a broken part, we just get a new one. Most people have no idea that tons of our garbage is either buried or shipped to third world countries. This is TERRIBLE. Recycle, Reuse, Reduce!
Part Two: Buying What You Need (and only what you need)
The rule of Lists: don't go to a thrift store just to browse. Have at least one thing that you're looking for.
If you go in just to look, you'll come out with something you definitely don't need. I have two lists on my fridge. The first one is for ingredients (because you can't buy fresh bananas at goodwill). The second is for things that I'd like or need that I'd prefer to buy second hand.
Part Three: Knowing Junk from Treasures
One of the biggest mistakes a frugalist in training can make is buying junk and thinking "well, I only paid $5 for it, so it's ok!
Now you're $5 poorer and have some random object that you're gonna have to throw out in a week. DON'T FALL PREY TO THIS! Look for things that match the color scheme in your house, or that you know you'll actually wear. Don't buy that wine glass just because it says the word "Dalmatian" on it.
Part Four: Prices, Prices, Prices
Paying $30 for a used pair of socks would be crazy, right? But a beginner thrifty would fall for this. The reason being that you are too focused on the fact that it's second hand, and you found these cool socks, so it's obviously a good deal. Play "The Price is Right" with yourself every time you thrift shop. Think about how much you'd normally pay, and compare it to the price you're thinking about paying. Having a smartphone is really handy, because you can compare online prices aswell. Also, Never be afraid to ask the employees to change a price. And ALWAYS check over whatever you're buying for scratches, holes, etc. If they are in any way damaged, decided if they're worth asking a lower price for.
So let's go over this again..
-Make a list
-Don't buy things you don't need
-Check the quality before you check out
I hope this helps next time you shop. Believe me, when I first started extreme thrift store shopping, I was a mess. Everything I've learned, I've learned through trial and error. Never be afraid to leave a thrift store empty handed! Keep a level head and remember that no matter how much money you have...
"A penny saved is a penny earned!"
Well, there you have it. Go out and save some money!
And please, feel free to share any thoughts and tips from your own thrift store shopping experiences.
Coming up next.....
Online shopping - why pay whole when you can literally pay half?
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